St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-26
SENTENCE PRONOUNCED.
HOlOng, the scandinavian MUIR
derer, Must Suffer Death.

special 10 lne GlODe.
FERGUS FALLS, Mimi, Nov. 25.-The
sentence which every one has expected
has been finally passed upon NelS Olson
HOlOng, the murderer of Lille Field. 1t
was the first business transacted after
court opened this afternoon. There
were but few present in the court
room at the time, Judge Baxter not an
nOuncing when the sentence would be
made. as he did not desire any scene or
unnecessary excitement. HOlOng's
brother and sister, however, came in
and insisted on staying, in spite of the
advice of the officers. The sister sue
ceeded III restraining her feelings until
the sentence had been passed and the
prisoner taken from the room. The
brother, however, began taking on at
once. and as soon as NelS was removed
he was taken out by the officers, as he
refused TO go or to cease his disturbance.
NclS did not appear any different than
lie has during the trial. When the
judge was about to begin he was COM
manded to stand up, which he did, but
as usual inclined his head on his elbow
on the clerks desk ana gaZed at the
floor. When the judge asked him if he
had anything to say why the sentence
should not be passed upon him he looked
inquisitively at Attorney RawsOn, but
said nothing. Mr.. RaWSOn. in his be-
half. stated that he did not know that
anything else could be said or done. as
they had exhausted every source. The
Judge then began his
ADDRESS TO TIE PRISONER.
During the entire proceedings there
was no trace of emotion on his face.
Either he did not realize his awful fate
or he did not care. The Judge ordered
him removed TO the jail and he was at
once taken back, the sheriff inStructing
the taller not to allow any one to see
him. The following is Judge Baxter'S
address and sentence: The jury
having found you guilty of the charge
upon which you were tried. il remains
for the court to pronounce the Judgment
fixed by law for the high crime of which
YOU have been convicted. Your counsel
claim that the court has the discretion
airy power to sentence of death. [
should be glad to agree with them in
this case, but am unable to do so. The
exceptional circumstances which would
justify the court in intiicting upon you
the lowest penalty-that of imprisOn-
ment for life-do not exist Ill this case
There is no discretionary power vested
in the court in cases of this kind. TO
justify the sentence of imprisonment
for life, the cOult must first certify of
record its opinion that by reason of eX-
ceptiOnal circumstances, the case is not
one in which the penalty of death should
be imposed. But the records in this
case will be searched in vain for any
evidence whatever of such exceptional
circumstances, or any circumstances to
which ! can certify of record as a justi-
tication for any sentence other than that
of death. If the statutes had provided
that in such eases the court might in IFS
discretion send the defendant to impris-
Onment instead of intiicting the extreme
penalty. then upon verdict of guilty
the court could. of course. without giving
any reason for its action, properly pro-
nounce either
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH
or Imprisonment for lie; but under our
present statute no such discretionary |
power exists. You have had fair trial |
and have been Skillfully defended by |
able counsel. All that could be done to |
save YOU from the fate that now awaits |
you has been done, but an intelligent |
and impartial jury have found you |
guilty of the crime of murder in the |
first degree. and they were fully iusti- |
fed by the evidence in doing so. They |
could not, under the circumstances. |
have done otherwise. and the penalty |
fixed by law as punishment for the |
crime of which they have found you |
guilty must follow. You should not de- |
ceive yourself with the vain hope that |
any earthly power will interfere to stay |
the hand of the law or prevent the car
rying out of the sentence about to be |
passed upon you, but you should look
for pardon and forgiveness only to Him
that is the source of all power. 1t is
considered and adiudged and the judg-
ment of this court is that you. Nels
Olson HOlOng. as punishment for the
which you have been convicted be
taken from here to the common Jail of
Otter Tail county and there confined |
for the period of ninety days, and that
at time to be fixed by
the governor of the state of Minnesota,
you be taken from thence to the place
of execution and there hanged by the
neck until you are dead"
The last hanging which occurred in
this state was at Duluth some three
years ago and the first case under the
restoration of capital punishment.
Sheriff Brandenburg, of this county.
was present and witnessed the execu-
ton. He did not think then that he
would be the next one to perform the
duty. The execution will
probably occur about Friday, the 24th
lay of February. The law says that
it shall not be less than thirty days after
nor more than six months.
There is no place in our jail and yard